Barrwood Cub Camp 16th - 18th June

The latest Cub Camp was at Barrwood in June and from the video above it looks like they had an amazing time. 

Some of the activities they got up to were: kayaking, backwoods cooking, axe throwing(!!!), tackling an obstacle course, fire lighting, the always entertaining campfire talent show, and all the usual games, and exploring and general camp adventures. 

Scout Gold Award success

 

Just as the Covid-19 lockdown started twelve Scouts were about to go on their final expedition which would earn them their Gold Award, the highest award in Scouts. After a lot of delays and frustration they finally got to go on their expedition, hiking and camping in the Queen Elizabeth Forest near Aberfoyle. 

Then came a second lockdown and more delays due to Covid-19, so it wasn't until March 2022, almost exactly two years after they were supposed to go on their expedition, that they finally received their awards. Most of the Scouts are now Explorers, and most of them have grown out of their Scout shirts, but it was great to finally celebrate their time in Scouts. 

Very many thanks to Jo Cookson, our District Commissioner, for coming over to present the awards.

Scouts at Invertrossachs

We can finally go on camp again, so we celebrated with a weekend away at Invertrossachs. There were all the normal scout camp activities (bivouacs, hammocks, campfires, "entertainment") we we also went out on the Bell boats, raised some flag/climbing poles, went on a bike ride to Loch Drunkie and of course ate a lot of sausages and cake.

Cub Camp at Invertrossachs

Now that we are allowed to camp again, we set off to Invertrossachs for a weekend with the Scouts. 

As well as loads of the normal camping activities we went on a bike ride, on the water in the Bell boats...and of course there were lots of sausages to eat.

 

 

Beavers at Invertrossachs 2021

Last weekend the Beavers visitied the Cub and Scout camp at Invertrossachs. Some of the Cubs and Scouts helped them with their favourite activity...cooking marshmallows on a campfire.

Scouts (finally) finish their Expedition Challenge Badge

 

Twelve Scouts had planned to do their Expedition Challenge badge in March (2020) but global events meant plans had to change. Fifteen months of waiting later, we finally got the go-ahead to camp. 

After some great navigation on the hike from Old Drymen Road to Aberfoyle, they camped at Dounans Centre, together with 4,897,201 midges. Cooking in a cloud of midges is probably one of the hardest things they have ever done while camping, so well done to evryone for getting through a very difficult evening. 

A quick exit in the morning was followed by the second day's hike and a (relatively) midge-free lunch stop to fire up the trangias again.

Well done to all the Scouts! 

Cubs and Beavers at Barrwood - September 2019

The Cubs had a great camp at Barrwood last weekend...and they were visitied by the Beavers as well.

As usual there were loads of activities: making fires, practising making and using stretchers, kayaking on the reservoir, caving, and general exploring around Barrwood - including to the Ice Boulder. And of course some great food was cooked to make sure everyone had enough energy to do all these activities.

Here are some photos of what they got up to.

Inchcailloch 2019

Balfron Scouts embarked on an adventure to Inchcailloch island on Loch Lomond, via a 9km hike with full packs from Drymen up over Conic Hill.

Thankfully parents (Russell and Mark) helped with their boats for the crossing as the post boat was off due to high water.

The first night was calm and some scouts ventured up to the ancient burial ground on the island, they returned quite quickly, and a little shaken! Others were brave enough to paddle in the loch, they also returned shaking!

On the second night we had to endure a storm which flattened tents, once we added extra guy ropes we took shelter in the fantastic bivouac with fire and toasted marshmallows after a great dinner of Spag Bol and fried garlic bread.

Full cooked breakfast with full strength hot chocolate both mornings of course!

Well done all the scouts for doing a tough hike with heavy packs and enduring the storm in great spirits.